WTAM Local News

Castro could face a death penalty

(Cleveland) - The county prosecutor in Cleveland says if it can be proven that kidnapping suspect Ariel Castro was responsible for the death of an unborn child of one of his victims, prosecutors will go for the death penalty.

Tim McGinty held a quick media briefing Thursday to say that he will seek charges for every single act committed by Castro while he held his three victims hostage.

McGinty says Ohio law calls for the death penalty for the "most depraved criminals who commit aggravated murder during the course of a kidnapping." He says aggravated murder charges could be filed related to pregnancies terminated by force.

Ariel Castro is being held on $8 million bail. The 52-year-old former school bus driver was under a suicide watch in jail, where he was being held on kidnapping and rape charges.

Authorities say he held three women inside his home for about a decade.

McGinty suggests the charges could number in the hundreds, if not thousands.